Today, 7 years ago -we adopted our wonderful daughter. She was 7 years old -so she has now shared half her life with us. I’ll never forget her tiny face with those huge dark eyes, and the short crop of black hair. As she ran down the hall, her smile was beaming. I was looking at my daughter, and I loved her. The honeymoon stage didn’t last long, and we began our long journey of bringing this little girl to a safe place, where she could thrive, and grow, confident and strong. As challenging as these moments may have been -most on the outside never knew the struggles she faced. That bright eyed child could instantly turn from hysteria -to the bright eyed child that greeted us that first day. The day after L came home, we took her to the zoo. It has always been a special treat, for me, to spend time with the animals. M (our other 14 year old -was plenty use to walking around the zoo. We’d gone regularly, since …

The sounds of laughter reach me, through the walls. Seated –I write, it’s what I do, Never far, from you. I hear their voices ride the air, Sealing these memories with devotion, as they share. Family is everything as we walk through this world Breaking through the limits of love And cracking the barriers of distance, Bringing joy, in a world of sadness. Togetherness we bequeath, through moments. Squeezing out the stress and madness. I sit alone, in this room of mine, Writing in silence. The quiet, brings the sounds of laughter closer, Swirling them into the voice, of our family.